The parents of a premature baby that died 12 days after birth have accused two nurses of throwing the infant’s body out with soiled linen.
Alana Ross and Daniel McCarthy’s daughter Everleigh was born at a Boston hospital on July 25, 2020.
She died six days later, on August 6. Baby Everleigh weighed two pounds five ounces at birth. She had an underinflated lung and suffered from a brain bleed before she passed, according to court documents.
She was taken to the morgue by two nurses, but on August 10, Ross, 37, received a call from the funeral home saying they couldn’t find the baby’s body.
The lawsuit alleges that Everleigh’s body was thrown out with soiled linens.
Ross said: “There’s so much anger because they threw her out like trash.”
Detective Kevin Cook said in a report that the infant’s body was “probably mistaken as soiled linens and placed in the blue soiled linen bag inside the morgue examination room.”
The lawsuit alleges that one of the nurses asked a transport worker where they could put the baby’s remains.
The transport worker reportedly replied, “anywhere,” The Sun reported.
CCTV footage appears to show a pathologist carrying a bundle that was put into a container marked for soiled linens.
Authorities spent hours searching through clothing and medical waste, trying to find Everleigh but were unsuccessful.
A worker told cops that it seemed the “likely scenario” was that she was thrown away in the container.
Everleigh was Ross and McCarthy’s third pregnancy. They had lost their previous two babies.
McCarthy spoke with WCVB saying, “We were ecstatic to start trying to start a family and just move into that chapter of our life.”
Ross says the only memory she has left is Everleigh’s footprints and a hat she wore.
The parents are suing the Mass General Brigham and Brigham and Women’s Hospital for an alleged breach of contract, claiming workers failed to safeguard their daughter’s body.
They have also accused 14 workers of negligence, infliction of emotional distress, and tortious interference with human remains.
Sunni Eappen, who is the Chief Medical Officer of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, told Boston25, “As with any instance in which there is a concern raised related to our standard of care or practice, we readily and transparently shared the details with the patient’s family.”
“We always evaluate both system and human factors that contribute to errors or potential issues raised by patients, family members, or staff and take action.”
“Due to pending litigation, we are unable to comment specifically on this case.”
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